"Powerful closeted gay men, driven by an almost pathological fear of being exposed, many times engage in two often destructive activities: 1) speaking out against gays and homosexuality, or courting those who are anti-gay, in a desperate attempt to show they are not gay themselves, and 2) seeking sex through risky channels, feeling they have no choice because they're unable to freely have sexual encounters via public, every day social situations, like dating or going to bar or public places."
"We've seen this over and over again: the homophobic hypocrite caught trying to have sex in public restroom stalls or posting nude photos online. Another way the powerful and closeted seek sex, however, is by engaging in workplace sexual harassment and abuse against men who are compromised (sometimes, but not always, closeted and conflicted themselves) and fearful of being fired from their jobs if they rebuff sexual advances."
Michelangelo Signorile, Huffington Post
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"The Cardinal is a troubled man. I pity him. He needs counselling to help him deal with his decades of deception, and to come to terms with his obvious self-loathing and deeply repressed homosexual desires. O'Brien's statement falls well short of what we would expect from a spiritual leader. He has failed to apologize for the hatred and harm he caused the LGBT community. I urge the Cardinal to show true remorse for his homophobia and hypocrisy by saying sorry to the LGBT community for the hatred and harm he has caused - and by publicly repenting his homophobia. He should make amends by dropping his opposition to marriage equality and by beginning a new gay-affirmative ministry to LGBT Catholics."
British activist Peter Tatchell
Pax et bonum
Probably one more reason why people like you should stay out of the Church in general, and out of the priesthood in particular.
ReplyDeleteNo worries, Peter. I'm nowhere near YOUR church.
DeleteSo, you've finally left the Church?
DeleteThat's not what I said.
DeleteWhatever you had in mind, incidents like this don't help your cause.
DeleteYes, it speaks much better for cardinals on the down-low.
DeleteIt may be seen as a proof that gays should be kept out of the priesthood. Should they be in the Church? I don't know, but have my doubts about it. This blog entry is confusing - to whom do you owe your allegiance?
DeleteWe only ever hear about these things from priests who don't own up to who they are or live with integrity. It seems to me the common denominator is the closet, not orientation.
DeleteTo whom do I owe my allegiance? Not to you.
How a gay priest is supposed to live with integrity? Wouldn't it mean living against the teachings of the Church? I'd say it's probably the biggest issue with the question of gay priests - how to reconcile their mode of being with the teachings of the Church they are to represent?
DeleteFrom what you write it seems that you're gay through and through. So it naturally follows that you dig out things like this, join the gay choir, but why do you still pretend you're one of us?
Even according to the CCC, it isn't a sin to be gay.
DeleteAm I gay through and through? I sure am. I'm also creative. And I have brown hair. And I enjoy hiking, reading, and architecture. I'm introverted and a faithful friend. I'm all kinds of things, and I don't intend to hide any of them to make you feel more comfortable.
You're far from hiding yourself. What makes me uncomfortable is when you try to pretend you're a gay Catholic. But I guess it won't be long before you stop pretending...
DeleteAs for the CCC - I'd say it's erroneous in this regard, because it simply doesn't make sense if take seriously what gays themselves say about their identity.
You're also uncomfortable with "gay Christians," IIRC.
DeleteIf you don't accept your own Catechism, I don't know what to say to you.
So, now it's MY own Catechism? It's called progress, isn't it?
DeleteFrankly, I think that gay Christians are people who really want to be Christians, but still are unable to understand that, in reality, they can't be Christians if the Christianity is supposed to be true to itself.
What peter said is not true Thom. Not true at all. That is a hatefilled comment to make.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty typical for Peter.
DeleteI went too far with what I wrote and lumped Thom together with this cardinal, even though he's innocent (at least there's no proof of anything contrary to this claim). I shouldn't have written that and I should be more careful with what I write. And yes, I apologize for that. But, that being said, there's still a problem of gay priests, and I don't think we can afford to avoid discussing it.
DeleteIt is sad, yet predictable. While at least some of the perceived necessity for deceit is located in his eminence's generation and occupation, we have seen this duplicitous and destructive pattern over and over again in all sectors of power, be it religious, political or in business. It is a behaviour which speaks to the sins of pride and avarice, not lust.
ReplyDeleteThere are benefits which comes with power and at some point, these benefits permit a flouting of the law and social convention which leads to a belief that the rules of society don't apply to those in authority and consequences are for 'lesser people'. For those with at least a vestigial conscience, this can easily lead to a paranoid obsession about the possibility of 'falling', returning to a mortal state wherein there are consequences for actions.
Whether it's Jack Abramoff, John Edwards, Jeffrey Skillings or Cardinal O'Neil, the pattern is the same, even if the nature of the indiscretions differ. The individual using their money/power/influence to put themselves above, apart and ahead of others.
Agreed, Tim
DeleteFrankly, I don't want celibate priests going about announcing their sexual proclivities. I couldn't care less. I care if the priest is mature and who believes, proclaims and especially lives according to the teachings of the Church. If a cleric can't do that, then get the hell out of ministry. So to Cardinal O'Brien I say good riddance. Let him spend the rest of his days repenting of his hypocrisy and the harm he caused to the Church's witness.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'd rather see an honest, open priest who honors his vows than a priest who pays lip service to an ideology while screwing around on the sly.
DeleteWhat ongoing situations like this tend to show is that many people who have a lot to say about sex, who are full of all kinds of special "insights" into its dangers, abuses and proper execution actually have a good reason to be so full of knowledge of sexual disorder--- they're full of it! Isn't it the case that so many who think homosexual partnering is devouring the world order are actually projecting the fact that their sexual problems are, rather, devouring their personal and inward order?
ReplyDeletePeople who think its incumbent upon them to tell others what do with their sexual life should be very honest about their own sexual lives and desires. Otherwise, we don't know where these "insights" are coming from. One should not have to induce chaos into others in order to try and alleviate the chaos in oneself. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly clear that a lot of these Catholic "prophets" are doing exactly this. They don't follow a dialogic and exegetic model of exploring the problems inherent in human sexuality (which need exploring!). They follow a dogmatic and eisegetic model that is willing to destroy the souls of others to strengthen the fragility of their own. I'm starting to think it's a kind of spiritual cannibalism.
You mean like all those therapists, sexologists and others like them, right? People may feel that gays are threatening them, because shoving your homosexuality down their throats of others is way too much. You don't want live and let other live. You want other to accept you.
DeleteIt probably didn't cross your mind, but maybe those prophets offered their insights after many hours of meditation, whole life of experience, many years of analyzing the world around them?
And what about pedophiles? Isn't soul-crushing experience to not be able to express yourself sexually? Maybe it needs more exploring? I mean you can't be that much dogmatic and eisegetic...
Of course it should read:
DeleteYou mean like all those therapists, sexologists and others like them, right? People may feel that gays are threatening them, because shoving your homosexuality down their throats is way too much for them. You don't want to live and let others live. You want others to accept you.
It probably didn't cross your mind, but maybe those prophets offered their insights after many hours of meditation, whole life of experience, many years of analyzing the world around them?
And what about pedophiles? Isn't it a soul-crushing experience to not be able to express yourself sexually? Maybe it needs more exploring? I mean you can't be that much dogmatic and eisegetic...
Agreed, Jordan
Delete